Writing News Sourced From Another News Story.

Copyright Violation?

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evdcats

4:57 am on Mar 7, 2011 (gmt 0)

I ran across an article today from a prolific writer that I assumed wrote original news stories. However, I noticed in the article—later found in all her articles—a "Source" link that pointed to a well known newspaper's original article on the subject.

Is this legal? My initial thought was extreme disappointment because I read all this writer's articles, yet none of her content is new, rather sourced from other articles.

She never, plagiarizes as far as I can tell, but the only thing that separates her stories and the originals are the words. In her defense, she is a great writer and does a great job with the articles she writes.

Just wondering...Also, I can provide one of her articles as an example if anyone wishes.

evdcats

eventus

1:00 am on Mar 10, 2011 (gmt 0)

Happens all the time.

AP, Reuter, AHN, UPI all do it.

"the complete guide to stealing news stories" in google.

evdcats

1:51 am on Mar 10, 2011 (gmt 0)

"Facts" can't be copyrighted....

eventus

11:30 am on Mar 10, 2011 (gmt 0)

I would agree with you but keep in mind that the Associated Press has sued and submitted some amicus briefs recently claiming that facts are protected by copyright as hot news.

Essentially the AP believes that they get a copyright to the facts that are published in their stories.

evdcats

3:08 pm on Mar 10, 2011 (gmt 0)

That's like saying that Erich Segal, author of the book 'Love Story', infringed on the copyright held by William Shakespeare, author of 'Romeo and Juliet.'

No matter what AP says the facts 'boy meets girl and falls in love' are just that, facts and not a story. You can write your own story anytime you wish based on the facts, but DO NOT borrow/steal/rearange words used by another author.

That's the facts...

topr8

3:12 pm on Mar 10, 2011 (gmt 0)

>>"Facts" can't be copyrighted....

but they can be 'first hand' or merely heresay

frontpage

3:50 pm on Mar 10, 2011 (gmt 0)

That's like saying that Erich Segal, author of the book 'Love Story', infringed on the copyright held by William Shakespeare, author of 'Romeo and Juliet.'

In addition to claiming he invented the internet, Al Gore claims the movie "Love Story" was about him and his wife.

Mr. Segal knocked down recent reports, based on comments by the Vice President, that Mr. Gore and his wife, Tipper, were the models for the young lovers in his 1970 book and the subsequent movie starring Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw.

Al Gore CNN 9 March 1999 - "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet."